Columbus Gas Prices Rise to $3.656 as Diesel Tops $5.29

Regular gasoline in the Columbus metro averaged $3.656 per gallon on AAA’s July 31, 2026, check, while diesel averaged $5.295. Both prices increased from the previous day, with diesel posting the larger weekly increase.

Regular gasoline rises from the prior day, week and month

AAA’s Columbus metro average for regular gasoline was up 5.1 cents from the previous day, 13.9 cents from a week earlier and 56.4 cents from a month earlier.

The figure is a metro average, not a guaranteed price at every Columbus-area station. Pump prices can differ by neighborhood, retailer, payment method and timing, so individual drivers may see prices above or below the AAA average.

Diesel climbs more sharply over the week

Diesel averaged $5.295 per gallon in the same AAA check. That was 7.6 cents higher than the previous day, 37.6 cents higher than a week earlier and 35.6 cents higher than a month earlier.

The diesel increase matters for more than long-haul trucking. Higher diesel costs can add pressure to farm work, construction, delivery operations, equipment use, restaurant supply runs and service calls. The AAA figures do not show how any individual Columbus business is responding, but diesel-dependent operators may need to account for the higher fuel cost in routes, operating budgets or customer pricing.

Indiana tax suspensions continue through Aug. 6

The Indiana Department of Revenue says the state is suspending collection of the Gasoline Use Tax from April 8 through Aug. 6 and the Gasoline Excise Tax from May 6 through Aug. 6, 2026.

The taxes are collected at the distributor level rather than as a separate retail-level charge at the pump. The suspension does not eliminate every fuel-related cost or guarantee that prices will fall, and AAA’s latest Columbus figures show both regular gasoline and diesel moving higher.

What higher fuel prices mean locally

For commuters and households, the increase in regular gasoline can raise the cost of daily driving, errands and weekend travel. For contractors, farmers, delivery operators and service businesses, diesel’s larger weekly increase may be the more immediate concern. Restaurants and other businesses that rely on deliveries or supply runs can also face added transportation costs.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s July 28 fuel update provides broader Midwest and national context, but those figures should not be treated as Columbus prices. Drivers should compare nearby stations and check whether a posted price requires a particular payment method before filling up.

What are you seeing locally? Share the highest and lowest gasoline or diesel prices you have found in the Columbus area.

Sources

• AAA Indiana Fuel Prices — Columbus metro price table
• Indiana Department of Revenue — Gas Tax Holiday notice
• U.S. Energy Information Administration — Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update